parigini



July 5 1960 H. r. ARIGINI 2,943,789

msc COMPUTER Filed July 26. 1957 2 vsheets-sheet 1 H. T. PARlGlNl DISCCOMPUTER July 5, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 26, 1957 INVENTOR.#peer 7.' PAe/a/N/ rraiA/tyf United States Patent() 2,943,189 mscCOMPUTER `Harry T. Pargini, Sacramento, Calif. v (1822 Lawndale Ave.,Sean Leandro, Calif.)

Filed July 26, 1957, ser. No. 674,414 rclaim;Y '(Cl.. zas- 88).v

ention relates yto and inl general has for its object,I ft e` provisionof` a disc type of computer for de- '2,943,789 vPatented July 5, 1960through which the data on the preceding lsweep can be termining'thenumber or quantity of any given item v which shouldl be ordered eachmonth, depending on the time required to fill such order, the lmit costof the item =in` question, and its average monthly consumption. I Tomaintain a proper inventory of parts and supplies, large manufacturingand maintenance concerns are required each month to place orders for aninfinite variety of items in various quantities. vThe quantity of eachitem so ordered depends upon the rate atl which it is consumed, itscost, vand the `length of time 'required to fill the order. f The'greater thequantity of each item consumed, the greater must be thequantity of it reordered and, likewise, the greater the time requiredtofill the order, the greater must be the quantity order. On the otherhand, the greater theper unit cost of any item, the smaller should bethe quantity' of such item placed on reorder. All of these variablesAdepend uponthe 'experience of the' particular concern underconsideration. The average monthly consumption of any item can bereadily calculated from the company records of its actual imrnediatelypast- -annual or quarterly consumption'. The average lapse of timerequired to fill an order of any particular item from any particularYmanufacturer or distributor-is likewise a matter 'of company recordorfcan be obtained from `the vendor Ias likewise can be obtained theunit cost of any item. Also from the company records can be obtained orcalculated the required data as"to optimum number of items which shouldbe ordered based on itsunit'price.

For ythe purposes of this application, the term lead time'shalldesignate the known or estimated lapse of time between the date ofplacing an order and the date of lling such order.

More specifically, the object of this invention is the provisionr of acomputer including a disc -in combination with a sweep arranged forrotation over said disc coaxially therewith, wherein the sweep :isprovided with one or more lead time windows, and with an average monthlyconsumption window in radial registration with a radial row ofcircularly spaced pairs of minimum and maximum windows,l said sweephaving imprinted thereon in 'circular alignment with said minimum andmaximum win-- dows a; series of circularly spaced pairs ofradiallyaligned' unit` price figures arranged in a mathematical progression;andwh'erein said disc is provided with a plurality of groups of leadtime figures in radial alignment with said lead time windows, all of thefigures in any one group being identical, but .the figures of eachsucceeding group being arranged in arithmetic progression; wherein thereis irnprinted on said disc a plurality of groupsof average monthlyconsumption figures in circular alignment with the average monthlyconsumption window of said sweep, each group of suchiigures beingarranged in a mathematical progression and there being one such groupfor each group of said lead time figures; and wherein said viewed.

The invention possesses other advantageous features, somel of which,with the foregoing, will be set forth at length in the followingdescripton where that form of the invention which has been selectedforillustration in the drawings accompanying and forming a part of thepresent specification is outlined in full. In said drawings, one formofthe invention is'shown, but it is to be understood that .it is notlimited to such form, since the invention as set forth in the claims maybe embodied in other forms.Vv

yReferring to the drawings: f Fig. 1 Vis a fragmentary top plan view ofa computer embodying the objects of my invention; and

lFig. 2 is an exploded view of the computer illustrated in Fig. l. p

`1'I`he computer as shown in these figures includes three` discs 1,'2and 3, coaxially mounted on a com'n1on-pin'fil` for rotation relative toeach other, the stack of discs so formed being held together by aheadscrew 5 threaded into thepin 4. Y I Imprinted along the edge of thelower disc 1 in a cirf cular row are six circularly spaced groupsLT1-,-LT5 of monthly lead time figures. Each of the figures in the firstsuch group of figures is the number l; each ofthe figures in the secondsuch group of figures is the number 2, etc., whereby it can be seen thatgroupwise these figures are arranged in a straight arithmeticalprogression from 1 too. Here it might be noted that, by way ofillustration, 2ll iigures `are included in the iirst group of figuresand that each' of the other groups of figures contains 18 numbers. Alsoit should be noted that each such group of numbers is circularly spacedfrom its two immediately adjacent groups of numbers. The figures inthese six circularly aligned groups LTl-LT,` of figures are designatedas lead time numbers for, as hereinafter will be.- come more readilyapparent, they represent the time (here 4in months) known to elapsebetween the date that any particular item is ordered and the date onwhich the delivery of such order can be expected. Although here, becauseof applicants particular experience with the Southern Pacic Company, arange of from l month to 6 months lead time has been provided, in othertypes of operation a different range of lead times might, of course,-prove to be desirable yin connection with a different type-0f operation.

' Associated with the six groups of numbersfLTl-LTB is a second set ofsix groups AMC1 to AMC., (average monthly consumption numbers) arrangedvin a circular columninwardly of the circular column containing the sixgroups LT1-LT@ of-numbers. The first group of numbers AMC, is associatedwith the first group of numbers LT1 and here constitute an empiricalmathem-atical series of numbers in which each such number represents theaverage monthly consumption of an item to be ordered and deliveredwithin one month. The numbers in group AMC1 range from 0 to 10,000andoccur as follows: 0-1/2, 1/z-l, l-2, 2-5, 5-10, 10,-20; 20-40, 40-60,60-8080100, 100-200, ZOO- 400,400- 600, 600-800, SOO-1000, 1000-1500,1500-2000, .200 0' 4000, 4000-6000, 6000-8000, 8000-10,000 lirornjthitit will be seen that although this series has been referred to as amathematical progression, no mathematical formula can be derived forrepresenting any term n thereof, in terms of its immediately precedingterm. The series is merely an empirical series of generallyprogressively increasing numbers which, forl all practical purposes',represents the quantities'in which various 'items are normally used. Ifstrict mathematical accuracy were here' re`- quired, an'arithmeticseries'woulilbe'preferable, although then' Ia` problem of space would beencounteredv forit would be impossible to place an arithmetic seriesrang= ing' fromA 0 to 10,000 around the'periphery of a disc of anyacceptable diameter. For this reason', a" compromise has been resortedto` but one which, for al1" practical purposes, has proved` to be quite'acceptable;

The group of numbers AMC2 is similarly associated with` the group ofnumbers LT, the group of numbers M'C" with the group of' numbers LTg,etc. The series of' numbers inA each of the groups of numbers' AMC AMCG;can bel identical tothe series yaboveA enumer= atedl and' constitutingvtheY group ,off numbers AMC1. vThe groupsV AMCl-AMC are' thereforearranged in ay repetitive pattern in an endless circular columnimmediatelyinward of the circular column containing the first set ofgroups of numbers LT1-LT@ One other thing should here be notedconcerning, the relativelposition" of: the numbers in the two groups ofnumbers LT1-LT., and AMCl-AMCB-- Froml the lower corner ofdisc-l' as'lthisdisc is illustrated in Fig; l, it will be seen that the numbers inthe groups AMC1' are are ranged in-pairs, each such pair being instraddlin'g, radial alignment-with one'vofl the' numbers of one oflthe-groups' LT1-LTS. More speciiica'lly, it will be seen that the 4 Y l1-8, 1--7 and l6. The third row consists of 7-25, `6'-2`4', 6l-2`4,5'2`3`, 5-2'3, 5'-2`3", 4"--2`2', f-l'8`l 3--l3, 3-10, 2 8. Theparticular row of these paired iigures appearing along the horizontalcenter line of disc 1, as illustrated in Fig. l and consisting of thepaired numbers S80-2200, 360-1900, S40- 1400, S10-1000, etc. happens tobe the eleventh. row of group MM1 and, as illustrated, consists ofonlyeleven pairs of numbers. All of the ten preceding. rows contain twelvepairs of numbers 'and all of the succeeding` rows contain one less pairthan the preceding row. Tliese pairs of numbers are merely derived fromthe company recordslas reflecting the minimum andi maximum. quantitiesoflfan. item which ern Pacific-Company. For other operations, anotherset pair` oflnumbers 400, 400 of the'groupAMCl is in stradi dlingalignment with one of the numbers 2 of the group LT; and that,similarly, the number 2 of the group LT2 islstraddled by the pair ofnumbers 200, 200 of the group AMCi. 'Ihe reason for this willApresentlyappearin con- Y rangeolcost oftheV item,.'and its'predetermined `or known monthly consumption. Thenumbers ofrthel groupsfMMF- MM5', are therefore.' the. unknown quantities toiV be-` solved,vv

orfco'mputcd by the: computer.

As shown in.Fig. l, oneradial row ofpairednurnbers of group MM1 appearsalong. the' horizontal centerline offth'e:y disc immediately abovethe'notation Minimumg Maximum. Also at the rightportion of the bottom ofFig. l. there appear three' partial radial rows of paired numbers ofgroup MM2. Provision is made'on'the disc 1- fory twelve circular columnsof` these. paired minimum andmaximum figures arranged in twenty-oneradial rows. However, this entiresector made up ofthe twelve columns andtwenty-one rows need not necessarily be filled with thepa'ired numbersnor. are the-paired numbers arranged either. in columns' or` rows. inany strict mathematical seriesy in which any given pair. or. its`components" can be" expressed in terms of itsv preceding pair. or itscomponents. By` way of illustration', the' first row of these' pairs of.figures of group MM`1 is as follows: The tirst nine." pairs of figuresin the. first row areI each ly and 4, these lnine. pairs beingfollowedby three pairs of.' liand 3. Inseach case 'the firstnumber of the pairisaplaceddirectlyover the'second number of the'pair and preferably theupperinumberzand lowernumbers should be.' of. a contrusting color suchas red for the upper or minimum number-and black for theilowerf ormaximum: number; Biel secondi row of pairedl numbers consists' of?41u13, SiS-l2; 3:'-12,-3T-12, 3'1l2f,' 2,4-11J 2;-1 1, 21l", 2-l1 offigures' would probably be found tobe desired'.

Extending. radially across the disc 2 isl a radial window 6 of a width'and lengthsuicient to encompass" just-one radial. row of. the lpairsoirnumbers included in one ofthe groups of numbers MMi-MMB. Merging.'with the outer end ofthe window 6l is a: substantially square Win dow 7of. a size just suiicient to` encompass. one. vertical ly disposedA pairof .numbers-of. one offthe groupsof: num;-l bers AMC1,toy AMC@ As-illustratedin Eig.v 1, the pair of numbers 1.00-200 is visible through.the window 7, `andl the, radial. row ot. vertically pairedY numbers.v380e- 2200, S60-190D, 340-l400,l etc. is visible throughthc window 6.

Disposed outwardlyI of. the window 7 and-above: and:`

below itis. a pair. of.v vertically or circularly spacedwirrl dows 8land. 9, in peripheral.V registration withv thev num; bers of the sixgroups ofy numbers' LTFLTG. 'Ifhecircuh lar, peripheral or verticalspacing of thewindowsy` and 9 is such that. they straddle two numbers.-of.the1 group. numbers. LIIFLTB? with which they happen` tobeoper.-atively associated. As shownI in. Fig. 1, all of the windows 6, 7,. 8'and-9 are. in registration-.withthefirstv ofY the.- threey respective,groupsv of. numbers, MMi, AMC1; and LT1.

Imprinted on: the disc over the-windows 6 and 7:' isla`v unit"I priceschedule 11. labeled.' indicated' in-Fig. 1fA as unit price. Theparticular` schedule heresho'wn con# sists. of. twelvevertical pairs ofnumbers arranged inA a radialrow; AsV sho'wn, these pairs of-iguresarab-14.011 '.01.OQ, .O2-.05, .0S.10, etc., eachsuch. intlicating..aprice range ind'ollars. Here itwill` bevseen.` that each of these pairedfigures is' inyertical registration` with one. of.. the: paired figuresof.. group MMI.

Imprinted immediately outwardly of theprricelschedule 1.1 andin.radial.algnment -withth'e window, 'isthelieg'end AMC, which, as.abovev indicated, is` anabbrevia'tiorr for average monthly consumptionandi indicates that-the window 7sl1ould be placed-in registrationy withthat pair of` numbers of. one of the' groups. ofl numbersl AMC@ AMC.,which most closely' reilects the: averag'emonthly consumption of the'item under consideration. 'lilie par'- ticu-lar AMC group selectedk oficourse depends'l upon' the'= lead time involved; Asill'ustratedf in.`Fig; l, aone month leadv time'has been assumed a-nd,.consequently;

theV window 7 isin.registration'withapair of numbersv of group AMC1and,V more particularly, with` the pair of numbers 10G- 2.00. v

Indicated on the discl 1 below the window 6l is` theV notation MinimumMaximum, thisy notation. indicating! be f ordered tab lzfandimprintedthereon andfon therdisc'zadjacent each-of the windows" 81 and: 9ilis-'lthe' notation Month'sfled Time, this* indicating' that either one"or botli off the' windows should be placed in registration with one ofthe numbers of the propergroup LT1-LT8- If the lead time as illustratedin Fig. 1 is assumed to be one month, thenthedisc 2 is rotated so thatAthe windows 8 and 9 Iare in registration with group LT1, this being thefirst operation involved in using the computer as thus far described. sY

If that portion of the disc 2 containing the price schedule 11 and thevarious legends above described happens to be transparent, the scheduleand legends should be encompassed by a contrasting opaque field 13which, for practical purposes, and as indicated in the drawings, can beblack. In operating the computer thus rfar described, the number orquantity of any predetermined item to be ordered is ascertained asfollows: The discs 1 and 2 are rotated relative to each other until thewindows 8 and 9 of disc Z are over the proper lead time group of?numbers LT1-LTB. If, as will here be assumed, lthe item involvedrequires a lead time of only one month, the windows 8 and 9 are made toregister general with the numbers of group LT1 (all of which are ofcourse the number 1). This having been done, a finer relative angularadjustment of the two discs is made so as to place the average monthlyconsumption window 7 into registration with that particular pair ofnumbers of group AMC1 which includes the known or predetermined averagemonthly consumption of the item in question. Here it should be notedthat in performing the latter operation, it is essential that at leastone number of group LT2 be centered in one of the windows 8 or 9. At theends of any group LT1-LT2 only one of its numbers will appear in one ofthese windows although at other places thereon a number will appear ineach of the windows 8 and 9. This condition is essential for the properalignment of the various windows of disc 2 with the various rows ofgures appearing on disc 1.

When the two discs have been thus aligned, they are held in thatposition while the operator scans the unit price window to find in priceschedule 11 that particular vertical pair of figures containing theknown price of the item in question. If it be assumed for purposes ofillustration that the price of such item is $2.00,'this ligure is foundto lie between the pair of figures $1.00 and $2.50 The operator thenlooks through the window 6 immediately below the vertically spaced pairof figures LGO-2.50 and sees the pair or figures 160 and 310. The firstof these figures (160) indicates to the operator that he is to reorderthe item in question only if the quantity thereof still in stock is lessthan 160, and if a reorder is to be made it will be in an amount equalto the difference tion of the price schedule of a lower or precedingdise and wherein the price `schedule of any disc or'sweep is correlatedwith the average monthly consumption figures and lead time figures ofthe preceding disc.

Preferably, all of the discs used are made of an opaque material or arerendered opaque. However, each succeeding disc must include atransparent window which can be placed in registration with the -unitprice schedule area of the preceding disc, for otherwise such area wouldbe blanked off.

To that end, disc o` is provided with a sector shaped window 14 which,as indicated in both Figs. 1 and 2, can be placed in registration withthe price schedule area of disc Z.

To extend the range of the computer as above described, the disc 2, inaddition to being provided with a price schedule, windows 6, 7, 8 and 9,and with legends therefor, is provided with three groups of figurescorresponding in character and location to the groups LT, AMC and MM ofdisc 1, all this being indicated in Fig. l.

Disc 3 then serves as a sweep operatively associated with disc 2 inprecisely the same manner as the disc 2 serves as a sweep operativelyassociated with disc 1.

To this end, disc 3 is provided with a price schedule, a minimum maximumwindow, an average monthly consumption window, `and with a pair of leadtime win dows, all functionally correlated with the groups of figuresLT, AMC and MM imprinted on disc Z. However, the price schedule hereranges from $10.00 to $800.00 and the actual figures making up the LT,AMC and MM groups of figures associated with disc 2 are correlatedthereto as well as with each other. For this reason the series offigures in these three groups of figures differ somewhat from the seriesof ligures making up the groups LT1-LTS, AMC1-AMC6, and MMl-MMU asysociated with disc 1.

between 310 and the quantity of the item actually in stock. If the itemis out of stock, then the maximum quantity of 310 will be ordered.

It is therefore apparent that the computer of my invention serves toreadily determine the quantity of any given item which should beordered, depending upon three known or predetermined factors: lead time,average j include either a disc or a fragment or sector thereof.

As a practical matter, it has been found that a computer of the abovecharacter having an outer diameter of thirteen or fourteen inches isconvenient to handle and store. However, a computer of such a diameterhas a limited range and, for this reason, it is an object of thisinvention to resort to a multiple disc computer wherein the priceschedule of an upper disc or sweep is a continua- Although the computerhere illustrated utilizes only three discs, a greater number thereofcan, of course, be used.

Basically, my computer can be considered as made up of one or more pairsof units, each including a disc and a cooperating sweep, wherein thedisc bears three groups of figures, the first group of figuresrepresenting lead time, the second representing average monthlyconsumption, and the third representing the range of the quantity of anyitem which should be ordered, and wherein the sweep is provided with aprice schedule and with various windows appropriately located forviewing the three groups of figures carried by its associated disc.

I claim:

A computer comprising: a disc; a sweep mounted on said disc coaxiallytherewith for rotation relative thereto, said sweep being provided witha radial row of windows and with a pair of circularly spaced windowslocated at one end of said radial row of windows and designated on saidsweep as lead time windows, one of said windows of said radial row ofwindows being designated on said sweep as an average monthly consumptionwindow and the remaining windows of said radial row of windows beingdesignated on said sweep Ias unit price windows, said sweep beingimprinted along said unit price windows with a plurality of pairs ofcircularly spaced figures arranged in radial rows, each of said pairs of'figures indicating a price range, said disc being imprinted with acircular row of lead time figures in radial alignment with the said leadtime windows of said sweep, said lead time figures being arranged in aplurality of groups wherein the figures of each group are all identicalbut are arranged in arithmetic progression from group to group, saiddisc being imprinted in radial alignment with the said average monthlyconsumption window of said sweep, with a plurality of groups of averagemonthly consumption figures, there being one such group for each of saidgroups of lead time figures, the said average monthly consump- 7 tionfigures of each of said groups being arranged in pairs and in amathematical progression, said disc having also imprinted thereon aplurality of groups of circularly spaced pairs of radial rows of minimumand maximum gures in radial alignment with the said unit price windowsof said sweep, and said latter pairs of gures being arranged iriamathematical progression, .there being one such group of minimum andmaximum figures for each said group of .lead time gures.

References Cited in the le of this patent

